WA's culinary experiences are a food lover's delight. From award-winning wines and rare truffles in the south, to succulent lobster along the mid north coast, to pearl meat in the Kimberley – the State's exceptional culinary offering attracts thousands of 'gourmet travellers' to the WA each year.

Here's our W 'A' list of food and wine experiences:

World-leading wines. From Perth to the rugged Southern Ocean coast, the State's south-western corner produces some of the world's most awarded wines.

• In 2017, the best known of WA's nine fine wine regions, Margaret River, celebrated 50 years of commercial vines, with Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon the heroes of the region. Three hours' drive south of Perth and hugged by ocean on three sides, the Margaret River region's unique maritime environment delivers perfect conditions for 150 wine producers – plus some of the most scenic vineyard country on Earth. Short on time? Swan River Seaplanes takes the scenic route, flying along the coast from Perth to Margaret River, where you'll be met by Top Drop Tours for a deluxe gourmet experience before returning to Perth in the afternoon – or there is the option to enjoy a one or two night stay in the region.
• Along WA's scenic south coast, Albany, Denmark, Frankland River, Mt Barker and Porongurup are highlights of the Great Southern wine region, which is particularly well known for its exceptional Riesling and Cabernet Sauvignon.
• A 30-minute drive from central Perth will find you in the picturesque Swan Valley, the State's oldest wine region. At more than 180 years old, it's the closest wine region to any capital city in Australia and its speciality premium wines include Chenin Blanc, Verdelho, Shiraz and fortifieds, with local grapes producing nearly 30 million bottles of wine.
• A short journey from the city will also take you to the Perth Hills, where local families and progressive vintners produce stand-out Shiraz and Viognier, and the Peel wine region, known for its Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon.

A generous serving of unforgettable events. Nigella Lawson, Heston Blumenthal, Curtis Stone, Rick Stein and Marco Pierre White are some of the big names who've made a beeline to WA's South West in November for the annual Margaret River Gourmet Escape. From beach barbecues to long-table lunches, Gourmet Escape sizzles with unique events that celebrate the region's famed wine and food. Lawson described the festival as “astonishing”, adding: “If any of you get the chance to go to Western Australia, you'll understand why I am so enthusiastic about it. Those of you who actually live there, I envy you.” Other highlights of WA's culinary calendar are Taste Great Southern – in WA's bountiful south-east corner in autumn; Truffle Kerfuffle (see below) and Mandurah Crab Fest, held in March in the canal city, an hour south of Perth.

Graze your way through Perth's restaurants. Perth has the ingredients for even the fussiest foodies – top local produce, celebrated chefs and more restaurants per capita than any other Australian capital. Through an explosion in new dining options, the traditional hubs of Northbridge, Leederville and Mount Lawley have been joined by high-quality suburban and riverfront food, such as Heno & Ray at the InterContinental; Garum at Hibernian Place; The Reveley at Elizabeth Quay; and Shadow Wine Bar, adjoined to the Alex Hotel in Northbridge. Nearby, you'll find boutique dining at the beautifully restored State Buildings, including the award-winning rooftop restaurant Wildflower with its menu that revolves around the Indigenous six seasons. Crown Perth adds to the riverside precinct's range of fine-dining options with Nobu and Rockpool, while a string of oceanfront restaurants and cafes serve up quality seafood and pub fare with a perfect Indian Ocean backdrop.

Truffles – a rare delicacy. The black truffle is the third most expensive food in the world, and 70 per cent of the Australian supply comes from WA's tranquil Southern Forests around Manjimup and Pemberton, some 300 kilometres south of Perth. As well as sampling the rare delicacy and learning about its cultivation, you can watch The Truffle & Wine Co's specially trained dogs in action on a truffle hunt tour from June to August. In Manjimup each June the Truffle Kerfuffle festival is a weekend of hands-on activities and leading culinary talent in the heart of truffle country.

Sample succulent seafood. WA seafood and freshwater fish are among the finest and freshest in the world. Sample the Geraldton rock lobster, South West marron, yabby, trout, North West barramundi, Exmouth prawns, Rottnest scallops, Mandurah crab and Broome pearl meat. From fish and chips to fine platters, Perth's seafood hotspots include Fremantle, Scarborough and Cottesloe. Learn about the State's rock lobster industry in Geraldton and Cervantes, or haul up your own catch of crayfish and cook it up on board with Mandurah Cruises new seafood experience tour. For the avid fishers, hook your own catch of the day on deep-sea, game or beach fishing adventures all along the coast. The Mackerel Islands (one of the Great Fishing Adventures of Australia), a collection of ten islands and atolls located off WA's mid-coast near Onslow, offer bucket list experiences for any fishing enthusiast with private boat charters giving a personal and specialised marine experience. In the Kimberley, the local Bardi people at Cape Leveque's Kooljaman will teach you spear fishing and mud-crab hunting in the mangroves, before you cook the catch on the beach.

Get crafty with local beers. Fremantle is the birthplace of Australia's flourishing craft beer scene, with the first big-flavour, small-production brews poured at the Sail and Anchor bar, where you can still sample tasty local creations. Check out other unique and seasonal craft beers at Fremantle's Little Creatures or The Monk – or see how local beers and cold cider are bringing extra flavour and attitude to traditional wine regions such as the Swan Valley (Feral or Mash Brewery) and Margaret River (Black Brewing Co or Eagle Bay).

Feast in the food bowls. WA's fertile soils and perfect climate make it a haven for horticulturalists, and you can experience 'the State on a plate' at gourmet events or straight from the farm. In the Kimberley, tours of Lake Argyle reveal the massive reservoir's role in the Ord River vast irrigated patchwork, which is a hub for everything from chickpeas and chia to melons and mangoes. The Argyle Diamonds Ord Valley Muster, in May, is an ideal time to explore the waterways and fresh produce. Further south, head to the Coral Coast town of Carnarvon to tour banana plantations and meet the farmers behind tropical fruits and vegetables. In WA's South West, the 'Genuinely Southern Forests' trail around Manjimup and Pemberton serves up a smorgasbord of fresh apples, avocado, lime and honey as well as marron, beef and the region's famous black truffles.